Cherington rolls dice on Castillo

It was always about the Red Sox’ money. How many years do you give a player; how much money? Jon Lester learned the hard way. Others, such as Rusney Castillo, catch a break.

Lenny MegliolaFor the Metrowest Daily News

It was always about the Red Sox’ money. How many years do you give a player; how much money? Jon Lester learned the hard way.

Others, such as Rusney Castillo, catch a break.

When you’re a last-place team, the only way to appease the fans is to rip off not just one but a bucketful of big deals. Trades and signings have to happen. The owner’s wallet has to open wide. The fair shake fans gave ownership for masterminding the 2013 season has worn off. That message has been heard. The team is responding.

Nobody’s been busier than Ben Cherington since the trading deadline.

Who knows where this reinvention of the Red Sox will take the team? The point is, the fans are invested in the big picture again. They need to be enticed. That’s no easy trick with a last-place team.

The Red Sox dipped into the Cuban grab bag – to the tune of seven years, $72.5 million – for Castillo, and why not?

You just hope by the time Castillo, 27, actually starts playing that he doesn’t drown in expectations. That danger always exists, especially in Boston. Anyway, Castillo won’t be seen for awhile. The Red Sox said that he won’t join the team immediately. He’ll work out this week in Fort Myers before getting some competitive at-bats, most likely with Pawtucket.

As excited as everyone is to see Castillo, there’s no rush to get him to Fenway Park.

In five years playing in Cuba, actually in his hometown of Ciego De Avila, Castillo hit .319 with 56 homers, 75 doubles and 76 stolen bases. The last time he played in Cuba, the 2012-13 season, he hit .274 with six homers in 68 games. He walked 31 times to 29 strikeouts.

That the Red Sox were close to signing Castillo was no secret. When Cespedes suddenly left Thursday night’s game against the Angels, one speculated he might be headed to Logan Airport to greet his fellow countryman. Alas, Castillo didn’t arrive until Friday.

Curiosity about a name with no face is always stimulating for sports fans. Castillo’s been hard to define so far. When big-league scouts started trailing the 5-foot-9 Castillo he weighed about 180. So they said. At second glance, more recently at a showcase workout in Miami, he was 205, give or take. So they said.

After the Miami workout – about 30 teams had representatives – the Red Sox brought Castillo to Fort Myers for a private audition. No more convincing was needed.

Strong and fast were the buzzwords about Castillo. Yet no one would commit to Castillo being a home run guy like Abreu and Cespedes. Maybe that’ll change after Castillo gets a look at the Green Monster

In fact, comparisons of Castillo to other players were all over the map. He was a little like Jacoby Ellsbury or Raji Davis, they said. Maybe Brett Gardner or Shane Victorino. That’s a wide range. It left fans scratching their heads. Some reports said Castillo couldn’t throw. Well, he’d have that in common with Ellsbury.

Red Sox manager John Farrell is also mostly in the dark about Castillo.

“He can play center or right field,” said Farrell. “An exciting athletic player, by all accounts.” That’s as far as the manager would go, wisely. The accounts come from the organization scouting department, which Farrell has to trust.

David Ortiz said he liked the idea of the Red Sox “taking chances.” But this one better work out, like it did for the White Sox, Reds and Dodgers.

Cuban pitchers historically have come right to the majors and done well. Position players not so much, the White Sox’ Alexei Ramirez being an exception.

Castillo bats from the right side, which makes the Red Sox even more top heavy from that side of the plate. But that’s just for now. Since the trading deadline, general manager Ben Cherington has been a busy man. It’s just the beginning.

“There’s a clear-cut plan with the re-tooling of this roster,” said Farrell. On the roster right now, Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia may be the only two safe for 2015.

Castillo is represented by the one-man conglomerate Jay Z. Great. That might mean a Beyonce concert some sultry summer night at Fenway. And if it’s not a sultry night, she’ll make it so

There will be Fenway nights next season when Rusney Castillo will be expected to glow in his own spotlight. He becomes a major piece of the Red Sox’ redesign. He won’t be the only one. Cherington will be looking to deal all winter. With the addition of Castillo and Cespedes, Cherington has done his job with the outfield, unless there’s a Giancarlo Stanton deal to be made.